They're heeere - Political ads. And they aren't going away until after election day.

It's going to be hard for your kids to turn the TV on without seeing one of these commercials. And if the past is any guide, the closer the election gets, the more likely it is that these ads are going to go for the jugular.

No matter which party you favor, your kids are going to be bombarded by messages that are highly partisan, sometimes inflammatory, and that often use scare tactics to make emotional points that can be frightening to younger kids. Hey, I still remember the atom bomb daisy ad that ran in 1964. I had nightmares for months.

And your middle and high school aged kids are going to soak up "facts" from these ad campaigns that often only tell one side of the story.

So how can you help your kids make sense of what they see?

1. Start by explaining an ad contains political opinion. It isn't fact or fiction but a point of view. You may agree or disagree with it. As for attack ads - put your two cents in about your feelings about them.
   
   
2. Tell your kids that an ad is like a little movie. Ask them what lighting, sound, music, facts or images the ad creators used to get their points across.
   
   
3. For your older kids, have them go to The :30 Second Candidate at PBS.org. They'll be able to create an ad for or against a candidate. It will really drive home how manipulating images and facts can make a very partisan point.
   
   
   
4. Finally, explain your own political feelings and thoughts to your kids. Tell them what you like about the candidates you favor. Put some context around the ads they are seeing so they can be informed.